Celebrating Life Around The Table
It is the weekend. Who else is doing the happy dance? In a sea of Halloween candy and sweets I thought I would serve up a delicious and light salad. I have lots of fall baking on calendar this weekend along with a few crafts I have put together for the Creating Memorable Holidays Seminar. My latest obsession is the hazelnut. I have been working my way through a few new recipes highlighting this nut. Wait until I share the caramel corn I added it to last [...]
On a hot summer day I think many of us are reticent to turn on the oven or even heat up the barbecue. I know I go for easy and refreshing food. One of my good friends was visiting last week and we went to True Foods, a restaurant by. I had their Summer Chopped Salad and knew I would be home trying to recreate it. The salad has strawberries, snap peas and fennel topped with a little cheese, toasty almonds and light white balsamic vinaigrette. I have been loving snap peas this summer. They are tasty raw or cooked. [...]
When summer comes around I love mixing grilled fruit with salad so this week made a Grilled Apricot, Cherries, Pancetta and Goat Cheese Salad. I was at the local farmers market and bought a bag of sweet dark cherries. They are my summer candy. I love the dark crimson color and the sweetness of the cherries. They pair beautifully wit the apricots and the salad quickly comes together. Things have been a bit busy around here. I have been knee deep in a project that I am so excited about and can’t wait to share with you. Hopefully soon! I [...]
Memorial Day weekend is here and one of the dishes I plan to make for a barbecue is this Asian Coleslaw. I am not of fan mayonnaise based salads. I am sure that puts me in the minority but luckily I discovered that oil and vinegar based coleslaws are pretty tasty. I first made this many years ago when the summers were spent with beach cookouts and picnics in the park. I dug through my notebooks of recipes but couldn’t find it so I started playing around in the kitchen. This dressing is tart and sweet with just the right [...]
Last week I made a Barbecue Chicken Salad for 60 teenage moms. One of the joys of unemployment is having the time to serve and volunteer. Frister’s is a non profit program for teen moms that helps to empower them so that they can lead successful, self sufficient lives. My friend Ali started this seven years ago and just this year added a new location in Yorba Linda. Each week over 100 girls attend the two evenings. One of the cool things they do is start each evening by sharing a meal together. Ali intentionally built that in and feels [...]
This Arugula Mango Salad is a delicious lunch for a spring day. I find that since I am not working and home more I have been able to eat healthier. Salads are becoming a lunch time staple and last week I made one with items I had sitting in the refrigerator. The vinaigrette is one you can make to your preferences. Add more honey to sweeten, more olive oil for a creamier dressing or less for lower calories and with more of a tang to it. If you don’t have champagne vinegar you can use white balsamic vinegar. Last fall [...]
One of my favorite salads is the Caesar Salad. Not a bottled or bland caesar found in so many restaurants or on the shelves of grocery stores, but a freshly made salad. The salad is romaine lettuce, croutons and parmesan cheese tossed with a dressing made from lemon, olive oil, anchovies, garlic and an egg. While working for Disneyland I was lucky enough to visit Club 33 a few times, thanks to a few vendors. It is a private club and is an amazing piece of heaven hidden inside the happiest place on earth. The secrecy creates anticipation as you [...]
Apple season is in full swing. Last week I came across this Fresh Apple Vinaigrette that is from a new book, Gluten Free Girl and the Chef, by Shauna James Ahern. I thought it would be a great dressing to a grilled radicchio salad. The sweet apple dressing complaints the smoky flavor of the radicchio and endive. I used a Buffalo Blue Cheese from my new favorite cheese store, Bruery Provisions. It was creamy with just the perfect tang. This weekend I will be busy preparing for special event I am cooking at. If you live in Orange County you [...]
I discovered the recipe for this Cantaloupe, Red Onion and Walnut Salad while doing a little menu planning for a lunch this weekend. Since I was working from home I decided to make this for lunch today. With our heat wave going I love being able make something without having to turn on the stove or oven. This is a brief post but I wanted to share this with you before the weekend. This salad would be a great one to bring to a potluck or picnic. We are celebrating my sister in law’s birthday tomorrow. How are you spending [...]
Web Design Case Study I just returned home from a long weekend in beautiful Napa where I had the Strawberry Hazelnut Salad I am going to share with you today. But first, let me share a bit about my trip. I was there for business but managed to fit in a bit of fun too. Our host Joanne inspired me to try canning before summer ends. She shared her Drunken Figs with us Saturday night. I am going to try and wrangle the recipe out of her to share with all of you. They were delicious. Meadowbrook Farm was our [...]
I'm Cheri Liefeld, radio host & producer, freelance recipe developer, food writer and cooking instructor. You will find easy recipes for family meals, entertaining ideas and ideas for cooking with kids.
